1989 Sugar Bowl

NCAAFootballSingleGameHeader
Name=1989 Sugar Bowl
Date=January 2, 1989
Year=1988
Visitor School=Florida State University
Visitor Name Short=Florida State
Visitor Nickname=Seminoles
Visitor Record=10-1
Visitor

Visitor Coaches=4
Visitor Coach=Bobby Bowden
Visitor1=10
Visitor2=3
Visitor3=0
Visitor4=0
Visitor5=
Visitor Total=13
Home School=Auburn University
Home Name Short=Auburn
Home Nickname=Tigers
Home Record=10-1
Home

Home Coaches=7
Home Coach=Pat Dye
Home1=0
Home2=7
Home3=0
Home4=0
Home5=
Home Total=7
Type=Sugar Bowl
Stadium=Louisiana Superdome
City=New Orleans, Louisiana

The 1989 Sugar Bowl was the 57th edition to the annual game. It featured the fourth ranked Florida State Seminoles, and the seventh ranked Auburn Tigers. The game was a defensive slugfest, with the final score Florida State 13, Auburn 7.

Florida State played well on its first offensive possession. Running back Dayne Williams capped an 84 yard drive with a 2 yard touchdown run, making the early score Florida State 7, Auburn 0. That would mark the only touchdown Florida State would score in the game. Auburn quarterback Reggie Slack first pass of the game was intercepted by cornerback Stan Shirver at the Auburn 44 yard line. Florida State would cap the ensuing four play drive with a 25 yard Bill Mason field goal making it 10-0 Florida State.

At the end of the first quarter, Florida State defensive back Derrick Dodge intercepted a Reggie Slack pass at the Auburn 38 yard line. Florida State's ensuing drive was capped by Mason's second field goal of the game, a 31 yarder, more than 3 minutes into the second quarter. That would be Florida State's last score of the game. With 4 minutes and 9 seconds left in the 1st half, Reggie Slack threw a 20 yard touchdown pas to Walter Reeves, on a playaction pass, making it Florida State 13, Auburn 7. There would be no more first half scoring.

The game was filled with several mistakes from Florida State. Running back Sammie Smith score on a 69 yard touchdown run was wiped out by a holding penalty. Despite the penalty, he would still finish the game with a game high 115 yards rushing. Florida State had first and goal at the Auburn 4 yard line, but came up empty after a fake field goal missed. These errors nearly cost Florida State the game.

With 3:30 left in the game, Auburn drove from its own 4 yard line to Florida State's 22 yard line. With 5 seconds left, Reggie Slack's pass was intercepted in the end zone by Deion Sanders, sealing Florida State's win.

External links

*http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=950DE4D6113AF930A35752C0A96F948260